Victorious Chris Weiss and his team at Formation Landscapes submitted two landscapes in Surrey Hills in Melbourne’s east. Surrey Hills Project #1 saw Chris up on stage accepting awards for the Landscape Design Under 60sqm, and also the Grant Saltmarsh Memorial ‘Feature in the Landscape‘ Award.

Surrey Hills Project #2 won the Landscape Design Over 200sqm category Residential Landscape Construction over $300,000, as well as the prestigious Landscape of the Year. Congratulations to Chris on his many wins and also to his talented and supportive team.

Semken Landscaping, well-known for their beautiful MIFGS gardens but a first-time entrant at these awards, won the Landscape Maintenance and Management category for its impeccable Plenty Project, with which the company has been involved for 15 years.

Plants in the Landscape – Jane Jones Landscapes, Kew

The luscious plantscapes revealed in the Plants in the Landscape award must have given the judges a real headache in choosing a winner. Jane Jones Landscapes took home the coveted award for a project in Kew, with the judges commenting that the garden:

In the commercial categories, Warrandale Industries shone with its Melbourne Zoo Lemur Project in Commercial Landscape Construction Under $500K and then again in the Hard Structures in the Landscape for its Grampian Hikers Camp Project. PTA Landscapes won Commercial Construction Over $500K with its Monash University Clayton Project.

Apart from award categories for specific projects, it’s great to see that Landscaping Victoria also rewards businesses that are contributing to the overall professionalism of the landscaping industry. The ‘Rising Star‘ award for a business less than 5 years old went to Landscape Plus, acknowledging the hard work of director Chris Keay.

Another business familiar to those who are regulars at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, or who need top quality plants for their projects throughout Victoria is Warners Nursery, which was awarded a well-deserved Supplier of the Year. Not surprising when you learn that the 102 year old Warners company has been a member and supporter of LV for an astonishing 47 of its 50 years.

And where would the future of the landscaping industry be without fabulous apprentices? Apprentice of the Year went jointly to Erik Holt of Ian Barker Landscapes and Thomas Conboy of Formation Landscapes. Two top employees in two top companies.

Apprentice of the Year – Erik Holt

Apprentice of the Year – Thomas Conboy

To round out the Landscaping Victoria night of nights, Awards of Merit went to Landscaping Victoria’s President Paul Hamilton and Board Member Terry Meehan, and Life Membership to Bruce Winstanley.